Criminal Justice News

Monday, March 11, 2013

SWAT Standoff Ends in a Blaze

Albuquerque,
NM - The United States Marshal Service in New Mexico, Task Force Officers
assigned to the Marshals Service South West Investigative Fugitive Team (SWIFT)
Taskforce, SWAT Officers from the Grant and Luna County Sheriff’s Offices and
Investigators with Homeland Security Investigations BEST unit arrested fugitive
Nathan Rowland in Silver City, NM late Tuesday night after a tense standoff.
Rowland wanted by the New Mexico Corrections Department and listed as one of
the New Mexico Corrections Departments Most Wanted Offenders was added to the
U.S. Marshals Service Most Wanted earlier this month. Rowland was wanted on charges
of absconding from probation, drug possession, assault/battery, aggravated
assault against a household member, larceny of a firearm, and felon in
possession of a firearm.

SWIFT
Task Force Investigators developed information that a possible suspect in a
shooting at a rest stop between Deming and Silver City was fugitive Nathan
Rowland. Based on information gathered by investigators, SWIFT investigators
and Task Force Officers responded to the Silver City NM area Tuesday afternoon.
Investigators identified the suspected location where Rowland was attempting to
hide. Law enforcement surrounded the residence and safely evacuated the owner
and other occupants. Investigators confirmed that Rowland was in the residence.
They also developed information Rowland was armed.

SWAT
members from the Grant and Luna County Sheriffs’ Offices were called in to help
safely handle the allegedly armed fugitive. After several hours of a tense
standoff with Law Enforcement, less than lethal chemical agents were deployed
inside the residence, but Rowland refused to exit. After several minutes, the
residence began to smoke near the back bedroom and a fire broke out.
Firefighters who were on standby were able to control the fire while SWAT
members entered the residence and located Rowland. He was taken into custody
without further incident and was transported to the local hospital for medical
treatment. Once released from the hospital, he was booked into Grant County
Detention Center.

United
States Marshal Conrad E. Candelaria commented "due to the extraordinary
efforts of the Marshals Service fugitive task force, this dangerous fugitive
can no longer cause terror in our communities by engaging in random acts of
violence. The fugitive task force that is comprised of many law enforcement
agencies partnered with Deputy United States Marshals combing every
investigative lead that would eventually reveal the whereabouts of this violent
fugitive; the success of this investigation is a testament to the exceptional
investigative skill and expertise that exists in the District of New Mexico's
fugitive task force".